Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA Puget Sound Health Care System facility employees 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees

Videos

• Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribed.
• Be proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medications.
• Be knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications, such as Lasix and captopril, to be administered. Take immediate action to remedy any noted effects.
• Receive patients, explain procedure, answer questions relating to the procedure, position patient for all necessary views and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure.
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family.
• Move wheelchair and litter patients safely by using ergonomic methods of patient transfer.
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system, and dose calibrators for various patient procedures.
• Understand and be able to perform exposure rate calculations. Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment.
• Perform a full range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, non-imaging, invitro and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated, tomographic, quantitative procedures including SPECT/CT.
• Keep up to date with new imaging agents, procedures and methods. Write imaging protocols for use in department.
• Analyze procedure images for quality. Obtain additional images when necessary.
• Correctly administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients. Utilize necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification.
• Perform radionuclide therapy in collaboration with Nuclear Medicine Physician. Receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses. Fill out appropriate forms and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician. Instruct patient, family and nursing staff in radiation safety precautions. Perform radiation surveys, post appropriate· caution signs, and distribute personnel monitoring devices as required. Properly monitor and store any radioactive waste for disposal.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges. Read and understand the film badge exposure report.
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by ensuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure.
• Schedule patient procedures, taking into consideration camera availability, scan length, patient condition, the need for multiple nuclear medicine studies, other clinic appointments of the patient, contraindications for the test and urgency of the request. Inform patient of all pertinent preparations for his/her scan, i.e. NPO, follow certain diet, bowel prep, etc.
• Perform required technical procedures for safe receipt, handling, transport, usage, and disposal of radioactive materials, assuring compliance with NRC, NHPP, DOT, and license conditions. Understand different precautions used based upon the various package types.
• Understand, utilize and practice the concepts of ALARA principle, maintaining radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable.
• Assure that all VAPSHCS Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Safety, National Health Physics Program (NHPP), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) policies are effectively followed.
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical methods. Take necessary actions to minimize contamination and exposure to self, public and coworkers. Contacting the Radiopharmacy and radiation safety officer if needed.
• Calibrate thyroid uptake system, gamma cameras, dose calibrators and well counter.
• Participate in research projects involving Nuclear Medicine studies, products, equipment and/or radiopharmaceuticals.
• Perform daily laboratory surveys, wipe tests and bio-assays. Recognize evidence of contamination and act accordingly to maintain ALARA principles.
• Evaluate study for technical abnormalities (artifacts) and take the proper steps to correct the problem.
• Evaluate the validity of data in relation to results needed and determine if additional information is needed for clarification of test results or to establish a definite diagnosis and confers with physicians on additional tests as necessary. Identify positive results and notify the Nuclear Medicine Physician immediately.
• Perform other nuclear medicine related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following:
  1. Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR
  2. Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.

Loss of Credential. Once certified, NMTs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted certification. Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active certification at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the journey level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists.

• English Language Proficiency: NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must have an approved title or parenthetical title, as described below:

1. Nuclear Medicine Technologist
2. Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion Imaging Technologist)
3. Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Multi-Modality Technologist)
4. Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist
5. Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist
6. Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Chief)
7. Nuclear Medicine Technologist (National or Regional Technologist)
8. Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Imaging Program Administrator)]

Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion Imaging Technologist), GS-11

Experience: For assignments above the journey level, the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.

In addition to the experience listed below, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:

1. Ability to produce and assess high quality fusion and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.
2. Practical knowledge and skill in the use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome.
3. Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings.
4. Knowledge of CT and/or MR radiographic techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters.
5. Ability to recognize and correct fusion imaging system errors.

Preferred Experience: 2 years of Oncology PET/CT experience. 1 year of Cardiac PET/CT experience. 1 year of Therapies experience (I-131, Lu-177 DOTATATE (lutathera), Lutetium Lu 177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan (pluvicto). CT certification: CT (NMTCB (CT) or ARRT (CT)).

References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: This work requires heavy lifting (45lbs or more), moderate carrying (15-44lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (4-8 hours), standing (4-8 hours), both legs required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, and prolonged standing includes the use of lead protective wear. Environmental factors include working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work, exposure to ionizing radiation, and exposure to body fluids.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.